Premier League opening day stats say back Frank Lampard goals and a Chelsea win, but avoid Everton, QPR and Southampton

Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Harry Redknapp are all back to action this weekend (picture: Pa, Action Images)

With football fans’ attention now firmly fixed to the Premier League’s opening day, bookies will be braced for a renewed surge of activity from punters – but which are statistically the best and worst bets for the coming weekend?

With all 20 teams kicking off their campaigns between 16th-18th August, bookmakers bwin have compiled the ultimate opening day guide.

The guide is based on all 22 of the Premier League seasons and analyses the performance of the current 20 Premier League sides on each of their opening days.

Bets you may want to place:

• Frank Lampard to score: The former Chelsea midfielder is the leading all-time opening day scorer with eight goals on the first weekend, so Manuel Pellegrini may just consider him a first teamer when Man City take on Newcastle.

• Similarly, Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba(probably out through injury) have six first match goals…joint third behind Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.

• Chelsea to win by two goals or more: The Blues are historically the best opening day club in the Premier League, losing just three (13.6 per cent) of their 22 first round games. Chelsea have averaged 2.05 goals per opening game since 1992, whilst only conceding an average of 0.77 goals.

Can new Everton signing Romelu Lukakuinspire the Toffees to better form? (Picture: AP)

Teams to avoid:

• Harry Redknapp’s QPR are undoubtedly one of the worst starters. Of their six Premier League openers, they have not managed a single win, drawing one (16.6%) and losing five (83.3%)

• Southampton have only managed two wins from 15 Premier League openers (13.3%), while Everton (six wins, seven draws, nine losses) are the weakest of the Premier League stalwarts who have been in the division for all 22 seasons.